Typography may seem to be a secondary website design consideration however it is one that shouldn’t be neglected. Typography can have a significant impact on any website. Why? If your customers can’t read what is written, they won’t be able to understand your message.
For this reason the font chosen by website designers is paramount. Today Arial, Helvetica and Times New Roman are three of the most popular fonts, used by websites the UK over.
Those considering which font to use have an important decision to make. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of some of the more favoured font options.
Google Fonts
Google offers a free font service that allows consumers to create consistent typography across operating systems. The only drawback is that there is a limit on the number of fonts to choose from.
Font Stacking
Google’s most prominent font, Garmond, isn’t available on every operating system, but it is supported by a number of operating systems and browsers. Those with the intention of ensuring the font is displayed wherever supported will need to declare it as well as the fallbacks utilised when your site’s loaded on a system without the supported font.
Webfont Services
Webfont services are practically the same as Google Fonts. The only real difference is that Webfont offer a wider selection of fonts. Unsurprisingly, these fonts aren’t free and are chargeable depending on the type of font chosen. The annual subscription free ranges depending on the font you wish to use.
Self-Hosting
The difference between self-hosting and a webfont service is simple – anyone wishing to use the service only pay a single, one-time licensing fee to use the service instead of an annual subscription. This means that you have a higher upfront cost.
Consumers have different options when they come to choose classic web typography. These options have their own individual pros and cons, allowing you to make an informed decision, based on your personal requirements.